Bandits

Days after the visit of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu to Plateau State, Forty persons have been killed in another attack by assailants on Zike community, Kimakpa in the Kwall district of Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.

According to a Kwall community leader, Wakili Tongwe, the attackers invaded the village in the early hours of Monday and shot sporadically at residents who were scampering for safety after hearing gunshots.

The community leader told Channels Television on the phone that a team of vigilantes, including himself and some security personnel, were on patrol in another community when the attackers invaded the village and started shooting.

Though the security personnel engaged the invaders and succeeded in repelling the attackers, the damage had been done, with about thirty-six persons shot dead and four others dying later.

Some other residents sustained gunshot wounds and are receiving medical attention at the hospital.

Security agencies in the state are yet to comment on the attack, which is coming less than two weeks after fifty-two persons were killed in some communities of the Bokkos Local Government Area of the North-Central state.

Plateau State has, for several decades, been a hotbed of killings, with gunmen sacking entire communities. Experts blame the fight for resources between farmers and herders as a major cause of the attacks.

The convoy of the Secretary to the Plateau State Government, Mr. Samuel Jatau, narrowly escaped an ambush by suspected terrorists on Sunday in Bokkos Local Government Area of the state.

The terrorists, believed to be planning fresh attacks on local communities, laid an ambush near Hurti community in the Monguna district.

The SSG was on a visit to Bokkos, which had been severely impacted by gunmen attacks the previous Wednesday.

As the convoy approached, the terrorists fired shots at the vehicle, prompting the security detail to return fire.

The attackers, overwhelmed by superior firepower, retreated into the nearby bush and surrounding mountains.

Our correspondent, who witnessed the incident, saw armed terrorists fleeing into the mountains after the skirmish.

Following the ambush, the SSG condemned the attack, describing it as an act of impunity and calling on the Federal Government to address the security concerns in the affected communities.

“I lack words to express my sorrow and anger. We just tested what these communities are feeling. We were almost ambushed. I was looking at my phone in the car when I suddenly heard gunshots. When I looked up, I saw two young men running into the bush, armed with guns,” the SSG said.

Describing the devastation in the area, Jatau continued, “We saw the destruction firsthand. Over 40 people were killed, homes were destroyed, and entire livelihoods were wiped out. The terrorists looted essential goods like 26 bags of potatoes worth N80,000 each from one home. These are peasant farmers; how do they recover from this? We must do better than this as a country.”

The SSG also highlighted the need for increased security in the region, which he said was a major concern for the state government.

“The Governor, Barrister Caleb Mutfwang, has directed that we bring relief materials to the affected communities and look at long-term solutions. We also need more security forces to ensure the safety of our people. While we appreciate the efforts of our security agencies, there is still much more to be done.”

In his remarks, the Village Head of Hurti, Maren Arondong, and the District Head of Monguna, Alo Raymond, expressed gratitude to the state government for the relief materials but voiced concerns over the persistent attacks that had left many residents displaced.

They called on the Federal Government to step in and prevent further attacks on their communities.

Meanwhile, the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, assured that the Federal Government was actively addressing the recent security breaches in Bokkos LGA.

Ribadu made the remarks on Sunday during an operational visit to Plateau State at the headquarters of Operation Safe Haven in Jos.

Ribadu explained that he was in Plateau following a directive from President Bola Tinubu to restore peace to the affected communities.

He commended the timely response of the security agencies in curbing the situation.

“We will ensure that all those arrested in connection with the recent attacks are brought to justice. The Federal Government is committed to improving security in the region, and we will not tolerate impunity,” Ribadu said.

He added that under President Tinubu’s administration, over 2,000 terrorists had been prosecuted or are facing prosecution.

Ribadu also urged Plateau residents to prioritise peace and unity, emphasising that disputes should be resolved through dialogue and not violence.

He praised the efforts of Governor Caleb Mutfwang in maintaining peace and promised that security measures would continue to improve in the state.